Schmidt earns another start Sunday

Dodgers southpaw Kuo moving closer to return

By David Ely / MLB.com

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers right-hander Jason Schmidt's start Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds was good enough to earn him a second outing as the Dodgers' fifth starter.

In his first start since June 16, 2007, Schmidt gave up three runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked three, utilizing a fastball that regularly clocked 87 mph, according to MLB.com's pitch tracker.

After the start, manager Joe Torre said he was not sure when Schmidt would start again for the Dodgers, but before Wednesday's game, he told reporters that Schmidt would take the mound Sunday.

In other pitching news, left-handed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo is continuing his climb back to the Majors after spending extensive time on the disabled list with a left elbow strain.

Kuo pitched a scoreless inning at Class A Inland Empire on Tuesday night. The outing completed Kuo's first set of back-to-back appearances this year.

"He's chomping at the bit [to get back]," Torre said. "He's going to pitch again Friday, I think."

Torre said that if Friday's outing goes well, then Kuo has a realistic chance to be back with the club some time next week for the Dodgers' road trip that includes a four-game series in St. Louis and a three-game stint in Atlanta.
"After [Friday], we're very close," Torre said.

David Ely is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.